Winner and loser of the week in Fla politics

Winner of the week: Will Weatherford. It has been years since an incoming House speaker has drawn the kind of bipartisan accolades and optimism that Weatherford has. Underscoring his reputation for savvy and fairness, the Florida Supreme Court on Friday validated the House redistricting plan he oversaw. Unlike the Senate, he followed the spirit of redistricting reform overwhelmingly passed by voters. Some colleagues thought he was nuts to do it, but the House plan won a huge court victory and probably will do little to diminish the strong GOP majority.

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Loser of the week: Don Gaetz. It has been years since the Florida Senate has looked so weak and dysfunctional. Gaetz, the incoming president, deserves much of the blame for sowing mistrust and negativity by clumsily inserting himself into the failed coup against Andy Gardiner as the next senate president. Gaetz's redistricting plan failed to pass the state Supreme Court, showing how a man who thinks he's the smartest in the room also can look like the most inept.

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For Florida political news today, the Buzz is your can't-miss-it source. Tampa Bay Times writers offer the latest in Florida politics, the Florida Legislature and the Rick Scott administration. Keep in mind: This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.